Degenerative Disc Disease

• A. Osteoarthritis
• B. Fibromyalgia
• C. DJD
• D. Degenerative Disc Disease

Answer: (D)

Degenerative Disc Disease refers to deterioration of the intervertebral discs in the spine, which can lead to back pain and nerve-related symptoms when the disc structure is compromised. This is a distinct concept from osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), which affects joints such as the knees, hips, or facet joints in the spine, rather than the discs themselves. Fibromyalgia is a widespread pain syndrome without a specific disc or joint pathology, and degenerative joint disease is another term for osteoarthritis. The option that states the exact condition described—Degenerative Disc Disease—best matches the stem, since it names the precise pathology involved.